What started as a mere braai in celebration of Pela Mashube’s birthday with her twin sister Pelanyana, turned into a magnificent roadshow as organised by Pela’s partner. Her partner, GS Shuping’s Toyota racing development programme took off from Rooisand Street to Siyathemba and then to Sishen with a convoy of more than thirty Tazz model club cars. What made it even more spectacular was that the convoy meandered around town ceremoniously - much to the delight of the non-expectant shoppers and residents.

Kumba Iron Ore has invested R6-million in 10 drones, which are operational in two of its key mines. Four drones are being used at its Kolomela mine, while the remaining six fly above its Sishen mine. According to Glen McGavigan, Kumba's Executive Head of Technical and Projects, the drones are used to conduct aerial surveys and collect a new set of information and data.The company has both fixed-wing and quadcopter drones, with the former featuring cameras and the latter on-board cameras and a laser scan-ner that are used to create three-dimensional images. The Anglo American subsidiary disclosed it has, over the past three years, invested R500-million in technology, including the drones for ae-rial surveys and remote controlled drills.Speaking on the drone investments, CEO Themba Mkhwanazi said it was part of the company's strategy to improve productivity."The realization of appropriate pricing for the company's high-quality products is a very compelling lever to generate attractive returns with low risk for shareholders. The core focus for 2017 will therefore be to step up these initiatives from current levels, supported by the operating model and technology improvements, in order to realize the full potential of the assets, provide confidence in delivery and enhance profitability," said Mr Mkhwanazi. He explained that using drones al-lows the mine to have more cover-age in terms of surveying, while eliminating the previous option of having to expose an individual to walk-ing on stockpiles.In December 2015, the company launched its first leased drone flight at the Kolomela mine and in November 2016, decided to acquire its first fixed-wing and quadcopter drones. The company has trained five of its staff to be pilots of these drones and they received licences from the SA Civil Aviation Authority to use the technology.Mr McGavigan said drones may al-so be utilised in accident survey re-ports and as an accident prevention tool to survey areas that could be un-safe for workers to enter.Gregory Donaldson, Chief Flight Instructor and Chief Pilot at Drone Pilot Training Centre UAV Indus-tries, last year observed the increasing usage of drones by SA's mining companies. He said then that drones were being used for everything rang-ing from mapping to mineral exploration to tracking stockpiles. "The fastest growth we're observing at the moment is from the mining sector. They use the drones to fly over an area of heaped oar and other resources used in the mines, and the cameras are used to view the stockpile for stock measurement. In the past, the stockpiles in the mining industry were measured by engineers either manually or by using GPS coordinates," Mr Donaldson said. it web

A build up to the Desperados charity run penned for February 25, 2017 was premised by the community charity programme coordinated by the biking organisation. Working hand and glove with a newly established entertainment powerhouse known as Harambe Lifestyle based at Gasehubane, a sample of about ten bikers descended upon the three villages across Ga-Segonyane municipal constituency donating food hampers and cash to the less privileged in society. The bikers mooted the wise approach to the main event by inviting the local business community to share their spirit of giving back to the disadvantaged members of the community. That clarion call was good enough for Harambe Lifestyle to heed and joined hands with the bikers. As a result the bikers had to accompany Harambe Lifestyle officials and councillors from the three identified villages namely Batlharos, Gamopedi and Gasehubane where three families received food parcels and R1000 each. In one accord the two organisations concurred in that giving is the spirit of God and councillors have to play a pivotal role to identify recipients and fulfil the blessing. While recipients couldn’t believe in the windfall the thunderous convoy of bikers was a great joy across the breadth and width of the many villages. The entourage eventually had dinner at Harambe Lifestyle where admirers of the sporting bikers arrived in numbers only to be told that giant bikes and bikers will be descending during the course of the week. The big annual sporting arena of Desperados biking event has become a traditional show aimed at caring for the down trodden in society.

A group of peasant farmers in the region have launched a vibrant union that seeks to address a plethora of farming inconsistencies in the farming industry around the area.

The official launch of the Rainbow Farmers Union, initially Kuruman Farmers Union, was marked as a milestone by the Department of Agriculture’s acting manager from the provincial office, Ms Lillian Senosi, who presented a keynote address on the auspicious occasion, with the host chief Dioka and other chiefs, including chief Tjankie.

Hundreds of farmers converged at Gamorona tribal office to witness the occasion. The union, amongst other targets it envisages, is to unite farmers - predominantly and strategically found in the livestock production region and to diversify means of livestock production by engaging other seasoned farmers especially commercial farmers.

To substantiate that significance there was Mr Gert Olivier, a seasoned and tried commercial farmer, who has shown great support for the emerging black farmers. He is behind the success of the launch of the union and is the mentor of these farmers.

Mr Olivier said that aspiring emerging black farmers need to rub shoulders with commercial farmers to be able to sustain a sound livelihood through farming. He appealed to government to come up with realistic training programmes rather than merely donating resources to unskilled farmers.

Mr Olivier further suggested that farming experts must frequent emerging farmers and strongly advised government officials to establish agricultural colleges to equip farmers in the administration of farms.

He bemoaned the exorbitant price tags on land, yet the ultimate goal is to avail it affordably to many as a means of maximising production.

The union is supported by a very robust anti-theft forum called Kgomo Modimo wa Gae of which most farmers members of. The stock anti-theft forum remains autonomous and an indispensable vigilante for the union.

The police and the Department of Agriculture have deservedly commended the sterling work done by the forum with a number of livestock rustlers arrested using its internal processes.

There are glaring opportunities in the farming industry for women and the youths.

In her wide-ranging presentation to farmers, the provincial acting manager of the Department of Agriculture, Ms Lillian Senosi, said that while mainstream agriculture is dominated by men, the department has good news to offer to emerging women and youth farmers.

She said that there is fund that is allocated to the most promising woman entrepreneur and all women ought to participate in the competition.

Similarly, youths too have such a fund and all that needed, is that they must be visible in the sector.

She stressed that the department is conversant with gender equality issues. Farming projects by women will always be prioritised to boost their participation in the sector.

She further said that food security is not a mere responsibility for the selected few in the country. While youths aim at the white colour jobs upon completion of their studies, entrepreneurial pursuits have more opportunities where tertiary skills could be converted into optimal production for economic growth.

As part of its efforts to inculcate a water saving culture, the Department of Water and Sanitation in the Northern Cape, in partnership with the John Taolo Gaetsewe and ZF Mgcawu district municipalities will distribute 50 000 water saving blocks from 10 - 28 February 2017.

The communities which will benefit from this initiative include Joe Morolong, Ga- Segonyana, Kgatelopele, Gamagara and Tsantsabane local municipalities.

The drop-the-block is an eco-friendly innovation of placing a block in a toilet tank or cistern to save water. It is designed to reduce potable water consumption by up to 2 liters per flush.

Volunteers will be trained from the respective communities to do the door-to-door campaign which is set to save over 100 000 liters of water per toilet flush on the water scarce JTG district municipality.

On average, toilet flushing uses up to 31% of the overall household consumption, therefore making toilet flushing one of the highest consumers of water in the house. Department of Water & Sanitation

Away from its intermittent service delivery deficiencies that characterise Tshwaragano state hospital, members of the General Church of the New Jerusalem in South Africa from local branches namely Batlharos, Bendel, and Dikgweng displayed a good example of charity to the institution.

The church voluntarily approached the hospital and requested to clean the entire premises of the hospital.

After having been granted the permission, the volunteers started weeding out the overgrown grass at hospital on February 6, 2017.

When the Kathu Gazette was invited on February 17, 2017 by the church to witness the progress made so far, church members were finalising the last portion on their final day.

According to the church moderator Jacob Kolberg who had initially made the proposal, said that the idea was not to undermine the authority of the hospital but to merely giving a hand of assistance in good faith.

“In fact we are inspired by the Word of God, to come to the rescue of the hospital to assist the many responsibilities bestowed upon its authorities. The general secretary of the church Botselo Kotiya said “As churches we shouldn’t be on the path of blame, but rather offer help where we can afford to, to ensure that patients in this hospital are not terrorised by mosquitoes due to weeds and grass on the premises.”

The church plans to run a similar cleaning exercise at Kuruman district hospital starting on 22 February 2017.

Church members of the New Jerusalem in South Africa hoeing the last portion of the weedy Tshwaragano Hospital in Batlharos.

The National Development Agency (NDA), an agency of the Department of Social Development, held the Northern Cape Provincial SA Early Childhood Development (ECD) awards in Kimberley on 10 February 2017. The awards, which form part of the NDA’s capacity building programme, are highly sought after amongst ECD practitioners.

The NDA continues to be committed to the development and advancement of the ECD sector in South Africa. Dr Anthony Bouwer, NDA Chief Operating Officer said “We want to encourage excellence in the ECD sector, because government has declared ECD as a public good. It is important that we create the platform to give our children a better foundation so that we can break the cycle of poverty in South Africa.”

The Northern Cape’s Department of Social Development MEC Gift van Staden said “The sole reason we are here is to applaud the practitioners for the outstanding work they are doing. The department is committed to invest in early childhood development because we know that effective early childhood development will improve the standard of education in South Africa”.

Best ECD Centre winner in the province is Kwikstertjies Speelgroep from Wrenchville, second place went to Ipetlontle Pre-School from Kuruman followed by Ipolokeng Pre-School also from Kuruman in the third place.

Best ECD practitioner winner is Mpho Motong from Bahentse Preschool in Kuruman, second place went to Elizabeth Riet from El-Shaddai Pre-School from Kimberley followed by Gloria Chono from Pearly Early Learning Centre from Mothibistad in third place.

In attendance, was the national winner of 2015 Best Trainer category Ms Mieta Lebowa and Ms Krieta Bahumi who won the National Best ECD Centre of 2015 in Cape Town in 2016. The two ladies where there to motivate the 2016 nominees.

The winners will represent the Northern Cape province at the National Awards to be held in March 2017 in Johannesburg.

Other people in attendance was the Executive Mayor Councillor Buyiswa Ximba of Frances Baard District Municipality, Department of Education and Health, representatives from the other development funding institutions and representatives from the business sector in Kimberly.

The other categories, which are - Best ECD Publication, Best ECD Trainer, Best ECD Programme for children with disabilities, and the new national category - Best ECD Centre Based Nutrition Programme of the Year, will be awarded at the National SA ECD Awards in March.

The chairperson of the congress of ECDs in the province, Mr Mokhele Mukhudu, was highly delighted by the exceptional results produced. “These ladies have made history by putting the district in the limelight in representing children from 0 - 7 years.

He however encouraged those who did not make it, saying that next year is still open for yet another contest.

The next contest in 2018 will be held in Magojaneng between March 16 and 17, hosted by the South African Congress for Early Childhood Development.